New earthquake rocks Chile

World / 3 April 2014, 06:37am

A military vehicle patrols after an earthquake in Iquique, Chile, on April 1, 2014. Picture: Cristian Viveros

Santiago - Chile's President Michelle Bachelet was evacuated from her hotel in the northern city of Arica after a strong 7.8 magnitude quake triggered a tsunami alert, local media reported on Thursday.

She was visiting the area assessing damages after a massive 8.2 magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami rocked the area on Tuesday.

The latest quake, the largest of a series of aftershocks following the powerful and deadly 8.2 magnitude quake that hit on Tuesday, was located 20km south of the port of Iquique at a relatively shallow depth of 20km, the USGS said.